Manhole cover



April 21, 1931. POPE 1,802,157

MANHOLE COVER Filed May 21, 1930 J2 0 :1 Z 1Z4! 1 I v? I a L b '3 1 INVENTOR. 7795017055 E POPE Patented Apr. 21, 1931 UITED STATES THEODORE r. POPE, or HomiNmoxLAHoMA MANHOLE c'ovzen Application filed May 21, 1930. Serial No 454,406;

This invention appertains to storage tanks .for oil and other liquids andmore part1cu larly to a novel cover or plate for the manhole thereof.

One of the primary objects of my invent on is to provide a novel form of manholecover or plate. and novel means for holding the cover or plate on its seat, so as to preclude leakage around the plate and to provide novel means for raising the cover or plate off of its seat, when it is desiredto gain access into the tank.

Another salient object of my invention is the provision of a single shaft or bolt holding the cover or plate on its seat and for lifting the cover off of its seat and holding the same in a raised position above the seat to permit access to be readily had into the tank.

A further important object of my invention is the provision of an adjusting shaft having swivelly connected therewith a manhole cover orplate, the adjusting shaft being threaded and adjustably associated with an interior bracket rigidly secured to the tank, whereby upon turning movement of the shaft the manhole cover orplate can be carried into intimate contact with the seat or raised and held away from its seat.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved manhole cover or plate for oil storage tanks, of the above character, which will be durable and eflicient in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described,

.40 claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which drawing Figure 1 is a transverse section through a storage tank equipped with my improved manhole plate or cover.

of Figure 1 lookingin the direction. ofthe arrows, illustrating the construction of the manhole cover or plate.

Figure 3 isa detail section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of the arrows,;;showi ng the inner end ofthe manhole coveror plate. V Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the 3 several 5 views ,-the numeral 10 indicates an oil or other storagetank'whichmay be of convene tional character. The storage tank 10 is provided with the manhole 11 whi h, in accordance with myinvention, issurrounded by an outstanding flange 12. This flange 12 flares outwardly and gradually increases in diameter thereof toward-its outer end form- 7 ing a tapered seat for the manhole cover orplate13.-

The manhole coveror plate 13' comprises a cylindrical body having the inner ends thereof tapered or beveled as atl so'as to fit within-the tapered seat provided by the" flange 12 and tomake an intimate contact therewith. This cover or plate 13 is pro-* vided with an axial bore 15 the outer end of which is enlarged to provide a pocket or seat 16 for v a purpose which will belater described. v, Y o Slidably; extending throughthe bore 15 of the cover-or plate '13 is the shaft 17, having.

- formed thereon intermediate its endsthe shoulder or annular collar 18, the opposite ends ofwhich; are rounded to form a substan- Q 4 tialball for fitting against the inner end of the seator pocket 16 of the plate or cover 15 Y which limits outward, movement 0f said, cover or plate on the shaft. The outer face of the cover or plate 13 is provided with an externally threaded axially disposed sleeve .19 which surrounds'said shaft and this sleeve H has threaded thereon the cap 20 which is also loosely mounted on the shaft-,The cap 20 confines a splitsleeve 22 which is likewise mounted on the shaft andthe inner end [of thesleeve engages theou'ter face of the collar or annular enlargement 18 formed on the shaft. Thus the cap or cover is prevented from having endwise movement of the shaft but is permitted of slight rocking motion so as to insure the proper seating of the cover or plate on its seat 12. The inner end of the shaft 17 is threaded and is received within the bore 23 of a bracket 24 rigidly secured m9 to the inner'; face of the tank 10, the bore 23 being in axial alignment with the manhole 11 The outer end of the shaft is provided with a suitable crank or manipulating handle 25.

It is obvious from the foregoing description that upon turning movement of the shaft 17 in one, direction that the shaft will be threaded in the bracket 2 consequently bringing the cover 13 into contact with the seat 12 and due to the association of the cover with the shaft a perfect seat between the cover and flange is permitted. 7 i

When the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction the same will move outward of the bracket carrying the cover or plate 13 therewith moving the same away from its seat and holding the'same in any desired position off of the seat.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that I have provided a novel manhole cover or plate and novel means for moving the cover ofi and on its seat. 7

Changes in details may be made without departing frornthe spirit or the scope of this invention, but

What I claimais new is:

1. The combination with a storage; tank having a manhole therein, and an annular flange surrounding the manhole taperedoutwardly to provide a seat, of a bracket secured to the inner face of the tank having a threaded bore in axial alignment ;with the manhole, a shaft extending through the manhole and threaded into said bore, a cover movable with theshaft toward and away from the seat, and means for rotating the shaft.

2. The combination with a storage tank having a manhole and a flange surrounding the manhole flared outwardly to provide a tapered internal seat, of a manhole cover having an axial bore and having its inner end beveled for engaging the tapered seat, a bracket secured to the interior of the tank havin aithreaded bore in axial alignment with t e opening, a shaft extending through the bore of the cover and threaded into the bore of the bracket, the bore of the cover being enlarged adjacent to its outer end to pro vide a seat, an enlargement of the shaft for engaging the last mentioned seat, an extension on the cover, a cap fitted on the extension, a resilient sleeve on the shaft confined between the cap and the shoulder, and means for rotating the shaft.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature;

THEODORE F. POPE. 

